--- chess-orig/chess-pos.el	2004-02-18 18:53:26.000000000 +0100
+++ chess/chess-pos.el	2007-09-24 11:04:39.000000000 +0200
@@ -595,7 +595,8 @@
 trying to move a blank square."
   (assert (vectorp position))
   (assert (listp changes))
-  (assert (> (length changes) 0))
+  ;; this fails for the start position in chess-opening
+  ;;(assert (> (length changes) 0))
 
   ;; apply the piece movements listed in `changes'
   (let ((ch changes))